Sen. J.D. Vance, the junior Republican senator from Ohio, was on ABC's “This Week” with Democratic operative George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.
The conversation revolved around Senator Vance's comments from a 2021 podcast where he said that if President Trump is re-elected in 2024, he should fire every “civilian employee” in the federal government.
Senator Vance had made it clear that if there was a Supreme Court ruling that included, for example, preventing the dismissal of a military general, that would be a ruling outside the scope of the Constitution. Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution gives the president authority over the military.
Fox News reported:
ABC News' “This Week” anchor George Stephanopoulos shut down Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, on Sunday after suggesting that former President Trump could challenge “illegitimate” Supreme Court rulings.
“The Constitution says the Supreme Court can rule, but if the Supreme Court — and I hope it doesn't — but if the Supreme Court says the president of the United States can't fire a general, that would be an illegitimate ruling and the president should have the power to rule,” Vance said. Article II of the Constitution to effectively administer the military as it sees fit.”
“This is just basic constitutional legality. You're talking about a premise where the Supreme Court is trying to run the military. I don't think that will happen, George. But of course, if that happens, the president will have to respond to it. “There are multiple examples throughout American history of a president doing this.”
Stephanopoulos asked Senator Vance whether the president needed to abide by the Supreme Court and when he tried to answer, he was suddenly cut off.
“You've made it very clear that you believe the president can challenge the Supreme Court. Senator, thank you for your time this morning. Stephanopoulos said.
“No, no, no George.” J.D. Vance said and was cut off.
He watches:
